I’m in Paris until Thursday for the BNP Paribas Masters (aka Bercy Masters). There’s usually plenty at stake in the ninth and final Masters 1000 event of the year: the race for world number one ranking or the battle for a place in the season-ending London finals. But this year, the eight players who have secured their spots are already known: Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka, Rafael Nadal, Tomas Berdych, David Ferrer and Kei Nishikori.
I have however big expectations for this tournament:
– I’m eager to see the “new” Bercy arena: the POPB that hosts the Bercy Masters has been completely renovated (read more about the modernization project)
– I didn’t manage to get tickets for the Davis Cup final, so I would like to see the clash between Andy Murray and David Goffin in the third round. I also would like to see Rafa Nadal and Kei Nishikori.
My first impressions about the renovated arena: everything looks so … grey: the court, the seats, the hallway. It’s quite depressing! The food is expensive, as usual: €8 for a pizza slice, €4 for a 50cl Coke bottle! If you plan to attend the Bercy Masters next year, bring your own food. There’s also a bakery just in front of the arena where you can buy good sandwiches. On the plus side: free wifi is now available in the arena, and the seats are much more comfortable!
Novak Djokovic proved once again too strong for Roger Federer. Despite the crowd’s support, Federer lost in three hours 4-6 7-5 4-6 4-6. Djokovic claimed his second US Open title, his tenth Grand Slam overall.
Djokovic:
You know, winning Grand Slam is very special for any tennis player when you are dreaming of becoming a professional tennis player. When you are kind of finding that inspiration, motivation, these are the tournaments you dream of winning. So to actually relive these moments again after 2011 it’s quite incredible. To win against one of the biggest rivals, as you said, all-time Grand Slam champion, somebody that, you know, always keeps on fighting till the last point, keeps making you play an extra shot, yeah, all these things now are very special to me.
Federer:
Yeah, surely I am very disappointed. Like you said, I had my chances on my racquet. I should never been down in the score the way I was. But Novak did a great job of fending them off, and, you know, all of that.
It was a tough night, but still, I don’t know, thrilling at the same time.
Novak Djokovic’s road to the final
| Round | Opponent | Score |
| R1 | Joao Souza | 6-1 6-1 6-1 |
| R2 | Andreas Haider-Maurer | 6-4 6-1 6-2 |
| R3 | Andreas Seppi [25] | 6-3 7-5 7-5 |
| R4 | Roberto Bautista Agut [23] | 6-3 4-6 6-4 6-3 |
| QF | Feliciano Lopez [18] | 6-1 3-6 6-3 7-6 |
| SF | Marin Cilic [9] | 6-0 6-1 6-2 |
Roger Federer’s road to the final
| Round | Opponent | Score |
| R1 | Leonardo Mayer | 6-1 6-2 6-2 |
| R2 | Steve Darcis | 6-1 6-2 6-1 |
| R3 | Philipp Kohlschreiber [29] | 6-3 6-4 6-4 |
| R4 | John Isner [13] | 7-6 7-6 7-5 |
| QF | Richard Gasquet [12] | 6-3 6-3 6-1 |
| SF | Stan Wawrinka [5] | 6-4 6-3 6-1 |
Who will win the 2015 US Open?
- Roger Federer (47%, 74 Votes)
- Novak Djokovic (28%, 44 Votes)
- Rafael Nadal (10%, 15 Votes)
- Andy Murray (8%, 12 Votes)
- Stan Wawrinka (3%, 4 Votes)
- Other (2%, 3 Votes)
- Kei Nishikori (1%, 2 Votes)
- Tomas Berdych (1%, 2 Votes)
- David Ferrer (0%, 0 Votes)
- Marin Cilic (0%, 0 Votes)
- Milos Raonic (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 156
Loading ...Photo credit: mrenzaero, Adam Radman
Also read:
– Roger Federer and Lleyton Hewitt at practice
– Novak Djokovic at practice
– Pictures of the Arthur Ashe Kids Day
Serena, Rafa, Roger, Novak, they all took part to the traditional charity event that mix tennis and entertainement, and judging by their big smiles, they had a great time:
Winner in Melbourne and London, world number one Novak Djokovic is once against the big favorite to capture the title in New York. Will he win his tenth Grand Slam title?
Check out a few pictures of Djokovic practicing on Sunday:
